Ex-communist Europe

Hillary Clinton and Georgia

Still friends

AFTER visiting Ukraine, Poland Armenia and Azerbaijan over the past thee days, Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, for the first time in her life arrived in Georgia's capital Tbilisi. This was always going to be the most difficult stop in her voyage into the territory most of which Russia insists on calling its sphere of special interest.

The need to reassure Georgia of America's support while not jeopardising the reset in relationship with Russia demanded plenty of diplomacy.

In the previous legs of her trip, Ms Clinton first meeting was invariably with president or foreign minister. In Georgia, however, her first appointment was with Georgian women representing the country's civil society rather than head straight for the meeting with Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgia's tempestuous president.

This may have been a softer and safer option in any other countries but not in Georgia where pluralism and eloquence have never been in short supply. Georgia's women did not mince their words, and neither did Ms Clinton. There was plenty of criticism – fair and not – of Mr Saakashvili and his government. Some, like Tina Khidasheli, an opposition politician, lambasted Mr Saakashvili for his chequered record on democracy. Others who represented the government highlighted the reforms and changes the government has achieved. Most questions were asked in impeccable English with intelligence which spoke highly of Georgia.

Ms Clinton, on the other hand, did not shy away from qualifying Russia's actions in Georgia as “invasion” and “occupation”. But the meeting was also meant to show that America's support for Georgia is not personalised.